Freshman Auble puts
Plainfield N. in PepsiCo final
Sets up match-up of unbeatens with New Trier
By Rusty Silber
SCHAUMBURG -- Plainfield North doesn't have one player who stands out when it comes to scoring goals. On Saturday afternoon the Tigers turned to a freshman.
Forward Natalie Auble took her turn in the spotight with the game-winning goal in the PepsiCo Showdown Aquafina Bracket semifinal.
Third-seeded Plainfield North used the goal to start its 2-0 win over No. 10 Lake Zurich.
In a deadlocked, scoreless battle seemingly headed for overtime and possibily more, the Tigers (8-0-2) found a way to break down the defense of Lake Zurich (7-3-1) in the 76th minute.
Sam Elster set up the play with a pass to the right side of the penalty area. That's where team goal-leader Auble made a run and was able to get a rolling shot inside of the post. Lake Zurich keeper Elly Daleske made an attempt at a leg save, but the ball was ruled over the goal line.
"Sam (Elster) played a great pass in," said Auble, who earned Chicagoland Soccer's MVP of the Match honors for her fifth goal of the season. "I tried to give everything to get on the end of it. Yes, I thought it was in, but I was nervous ... until it was called a goal. It was a big goal for us to get."
Elster added an insurance goal less than a minute later off a misdirected ball in the back from Lake Zurich.
As the second half wound down, Plainfield North coach Jane Crowe thought her team would see the same thing that happened in their quarterfinal victory at Wheaton North on Thursday.
"We were starting to get close to the end," Crowe said. "I was starting to think that both teams were playing so solid, it might come down to one play. I was hoping that it wouldn't come down to PKs. But we started to break through late in the game, and we had a great ball across that fortunately we had somebody on the end to finish."
The Tigers defense put forth another solid effort. Keeper Emma Veselsky earned a clean sheet with five stops.
"Our defense has been really good all year," Crowe added. "They just keep getting better. We've been saying all along that this is the best defense that we've ever had.
Those Plainfield North defenders consist of Karsyn Stirrett, Brooke Polonus, Emily Devaux and Abby Gustafson.
Lake Zurich had hopes of moving on and reaching the championship game, and the Bears had their chances moving forward. However, they had a tough time getting the good opportunity or shot they needed in the final third.
"It was a really good battle," Lake Zurich coach Michael Castronova said. "I thought we put some pressure on them especially in the second half. Unfortunately, it didn't go our way. Credit, Plainfield North, that was a pretty good game. Once (Plainfield North) got the first one, we pressed a little bit trying to tie it up. I thought the girls fought hard out there."
The Bears worked hard in the second half, but the Tigers defense got in their way.
"We said at halftime to get some pressure and possession with our forwards and midfielders," Castronova said. "I thought we did that and every time we would get a shot it would go off a defender. We were just unlucky with our chances, and it didn't go our way. Credit to Plainfield North, but we fought hard the entire way."
Plainfield North will be making its second trip to the championship game in the last three years. The school lost to Buffalo Grove in penalty kicks in 2013.
The Tigers will take on defending Class 3A state and PepsiCo Showdown champion New Trier (11-0) in the final. The Trevians won their 21st-straight game with 4-1 semifinal tally against No. 4 seed Hinsdale Central on Saturday afternoon. The title match is tentatively slated for a late morning or early afternoon start Sunday, April 26, at DePaul University.
Crowe hopes her team will continue rounding into form for its biggest test.
"Coming into the tournament, we haven't played great starting the season," Crowe said. "I'm not going to say that we didn't believe we could do it. But we were thinking about it. We were actually thinking about improving our game. As we started winning, it was like we were getting closer and closer. It started to become reality.
"Hopefully, we can enjoy the fact that we're going. We have to play games before that one. But, New Trier will be in the same boat. We know they will be the favorite. They haven't lost a game in a long time with winning the state championship last year. Being the underdog I kind of like that opportunity for us."
Starting lineups
Lake Zurich
GK - Elly Daleske
D - Megan Bens
D - Maggie Tuckey
D - Blair Coughenhour
MF - Erin Neesen
MF - Madeline Blasko
MF - Katie Fabbrini
MF - Alexa Juarez
MF - Danielle Ufjeil
F - Rebecca Kubin
F - Nicole Rasiarmos
Plainfield North
GK - Emma Veselsky
D - Karsyn Stirrett
D - Emily Devaux
D - Abby Gustafson
D - Brooke Polonus
MF - Reyse Stirrett
MF - Jessica Christmas
MF - Sam Elster
MF - Megan Breier
F - Natalie Auble
F - Eryn Chynoweth
MVP of the Match - Natalie Auble, F, Plainfield North
Plainfield N. in PepsiCo final
Sets up match-up of unbeatens with New Trier
By Rusty Silber
SCHAUMBURG -- Plainfield North doesn't have one player who stands out when it comes to scoring goals. On Saturday afternoon the Tigers turned to a freshman.
Forward Natalie Auble took her turn in the spotight with the game-winning goal in the PepsiCo Showdown Aquafina Bracket semifinal.
Third-seeded Plainfield North used the goal to start its 2-0 win over No. 10 Lake Zurich.
In a deadlocked, scoreless battle seemingly headed for overtime and possibily more, the Tigers (8-0-2) found a way to break down the defense of Lake Zurich (7-3-1) in the 76th minute.
Sam Elster set up the play with a pass to the right side of the penalty area. That's where team goal-leader Auble made a run and was able to get a rolling shot inside of the post. Lake Zurich keeper Elly Daleske made an attempt at a leg save, but the ball was ruled over the goal line.
"Sam (Elster) played a great pass in," said Auble, who earned Chicagoland Soccer's MVP of the Match honors for her fifth goal of the season. "I tried to give everything to get on the end of it. Yes, I thought it was in, but I was nervous ... until it was called a goal. It was a big goal for us to get."
Elster added an insurance goal less than a minute later off a misdirected ball in the back from Lake Zurich.
As the second half wound down, Plainfield North coach Jane Crowe thought her team would see the same thing that happened in their quarterfinal victory at Wheaton North on Thursday.
"We were starting to get close to the end," Crowe said. "I was starting to think that both teams were playing so solid, it might come down to one play. I was hoping that it wouldn't come down to PKs. But we started to break through late in the game, and we had a great ball across that fortunately we had somebody on the end to finish."
The Tigers defense put forth another solid effort. Keeper Emma Veselsky earned a clean sheet with five stops.
"Our defense has been really good all year," Crowe added. "They just keep getting better. We've been saying all along that this is the best defense that we've ever had.
Those Plainfield North defenders consist of Karsyn Stirrett, Brooke Polonus, Emily Devaux and Abby Gustafson.
Lake Zurich had hopes of moving on and reaching the championship game, and the Bears had their chances moving forward. However, they had a tough time getting the good opportunity or shot they needed in the final third.
"It was a really good battle," Lake Zurich coach Michael Castronova said. "I thought we put some pressure on them especially in the second half. Unfortunately, it didn't go our way. Credit, Plainfield North, that was a pretty good game. Once (Plainfield North) got the first one, we pressed a little bit trying to tie it up. I thought the girls fought hard out there."
The Bears worked hard in the second half, but the Tigers defense got in their way.
"We said at halftime to get some pressure and possession with our forwards and midfielders," Castronova said. "I thought we did that and every time we would get a shot it would go off a defender. We were just unlucky with our chances, and it didn't go our way. Credit to Plainfield North, but we fought hard the entire way."
Plainfield North will be making its second trip to the championship game in the last three years. The school lost to Buffalo Grove in penalty kicks in 2013.
The Tigers will take on defending Class 3A state and PepsiCo Showdown champion New Trier (11-0) in the final. The Trevians won their 21st-straight game with 4-1 semifinal tally against No. 4 seed Hinsdale Central on Saturday afternoon. The title match is tentatively slated for a late morning or early afternoon start Sunday, April 26, at DePaul University.
Crowe hopes her team will continue rounding into form for its biggest test.
"Coming into the tournament, we haven't played great starting the season," Crowe said. "I'm not going to say that we didn't believe we could do it. But we were thinking about it. We were actually thinking about improving our game. As we started winning, it was like we were getting closer and closer. It started to become reality.
"Hopefully, we can enjoy the fact that we're going. We have to play games before that one. But, New Trier will be in the same boat. We know they will be the favorite. They haven't lost a game in a long time with winning the state championship last year. Being the underdog I kind of like that opportunity for us."
Starting lineups
Lake Zurich
GK - Elly Daleske
D - Megan Bens
D - Maggie Tuckey
D - Blair Coughenhour
MF - Erin Neesen
MF - Madeline Blasko
MF - Katie Fabbrini
MF - Alexa Juarez
MF - Danielle Ufjeil
F - Rebecca Kubin
F - Nicole Rasiarmos
Plainfield North
GK - Emma Veselsky
D - Karsyn Stirrett
D - Emily Devaux
D - Abby Gustafson
D - Brooke Polonus
MF - Reyse Stirrett
MF - Jessica Christmas
MF - Sam Elster
MF - Megan Breier
F - Natalie Auble
F - Eryn Chynoweth
MVP of the Match - Natalie Auble, F, Plainfield North